Red, White, Blue and Green : Luck of the Irish Blesses Both Returning Troops and Parade Under the Sun

The sky was a cornflower blue, Saddleback loomed amethyst and both the canyons and the crowd were swathed in green Saturday as glorious weather greeted homecoming soldiers and drew about 8,000 people here to the annual St. Patrick’s Day parade.

Since the first day of spring was still five days off, the shamrock-bearing celebrators credited the luck of the Irish.

“Somebody up there likes us, because for 22 consecutive years it has never rained on our parade,” said Ralph L. Burger, one of the parade’s organizers.

The splendid weather was not expected to hold, however. Meteorologists forecast clouds and a chance of rain this morning, with a 70% to 90% chance of rain by tonight.

But the brilliant skies lasted long enough to give a stunning welcome to soldiers returning from the Gulf War. About 25 newly arrived troops and their families took part in the parade. As their flatbed truck rolled down Marguerite Parkway, spectators lining the route jumped to their feet and cheered.

Meanwhile, two planeloads of homecoming Marines landed at El Toro Marine Corps Air Station on Saturday, where newly returned troops and their families picnicked to the strains of the Buckaroos, a country band, and the twirls of the red-white-and-blue-clad Santana Swingers square dancers.

And 40 Army reservists from the 458th MASH (Mobile Army Surgical Hospital) unit arrived from Saudi Arabia and were feted at a celebration in Garden Grove, said Ted Bartemus, spokesman for the 63rd Army Reserve Command.

The parade was marked by plenty of patriotic celebration as well as traditional Irish revelry.

Girl Scouts carried a “Support the Troops” placard, while street vendors peddled U.S. flags and T-shirts lauding the performance of GIs in the war, along with hot dogs, nachos, green cotton candy and Kelly-green balloons.

Among the 120 marching units was a band of traditional kilt-clad bagpipers. Nearby, youngsters on neon-colored roller blades zipped up and down the route. Toddlers tooted green plastic horns until their parents winced.

The parade is said to have begun in 1970, when one local Irishman bet another that 200 people could not be found to march for the glory of Eire. Two thousand people showed up, and the parade has become a tradition.

“I’m surprised they’re celebrating an Irish tradition,” said John Kavanaugh, a veteran of New York celebrations but a newcomer to Southern California. “This is more controlled. On the East Coast there is a lot of drinking.”

There was, of course, a Lord Mayor of Orange County. He was decked out in gold Knickerbockers, a gold morning coat, green stockings and a silver hat, and leaned on a large black staff.

“It’s a lot of fun,” said Michael Brennan, 31, of Lake Forest, who inherited the title from his father, who retired after 15 years in the ceremonial job.

He also said, “It’s nice to see the looks on the kids’ faces when they see me.”